This isn’t something that I have uncovered before, however last week during a Hove plumber appointment to replace a water tank (it was leaking) I discovered something awful. The water tank was contaminated. You certainly wouldn’t want to drink, wash or touch the water that had been in this tank. Legionnaires disease is not something that has wide awareness however following my discovery I thought it was worth posting about.
Legionnaires Disease is a form of pneumonia and is caught from breathing in the air vapour from various sources. Sources such as: contaminated water sources such as lakes, hot tubs and of course plumbing systems where bacteria builds up. In this case the water in the tank had become stagnant and was a clear risk. Symptoms typically take between 2-10 days to appear and take the form of common ailments such as fever, aches & pains, and headaches. This can make Legionnaires Disease hard to diagnose. Treatment is usually a course of antibiotics but if left untreated can become very serious and in some cases fatal.
Legionnaires Disease is something that is preventable. The best way to manage this in Hove heating systems is to keep water systems cooled below 20 degrees or heated above 60 degrees. For more information visit https://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/symptoms.htm
To ensure your home heating system is safe, please don’t hesitate to contact us for an appointment on 01273 507988, you never know what could be lurking in your loft!
